ARKRAFT Handmade watch by watchmaker Hidekazu Araki

Hidekazu Araki of "ARKRAFT" is a watchmaker who creates watches by hand, one by one, in Taito Ward, Tokyo, which is known as a town of artisans for leather goods and metal crafts.

The brand name "ARKRAFT" is derived from Araki's abbreviated signature "ARK," "kraft" meaning productive or creative power in German, and "ar-," the root word for art and arm meaning connection or fit. While following the design based on the tradition of wristwatches, each watch is carefully crafted with the aim of incorporating the flavor and warmth of handmade products.

Araki studied watch making and repair under Koji Shinohara, a pioneer of handmade watches and representative of the Japan Handcraft watch Association (JHA), before going independent in Kuramae, Taito Ward, Tokyo. He makes watches with timeless designs that add a touch of playfulness to handmade watches, such as watches with basic designs with parts of the dial burned and handwritten numbers added, and watches with cases carefully and minutely hammered to create an expressive finish. In addition, he mainly uses brass cases and high-quality vegetable-tanned leather for the straps, which deepen in character with use.

Araki's watches, which combine universality and originality, can be worn for both casual and business occasions and can be worn by both men and women. The watches, which are made through a time-consuming process, give you a warmth and comfort that you cannot get from a ready-made product, and you can enjoy the changes that occur over time.